To What Extent Did Lenin Stay True to Orthodox Marxism?

Summary: An examination of the extent of Lenin's commitment to Karl Marx's 'true' communism, and the extent of his application of communism in Soviet Russia.

As historical debates rage over Lenin's actual commitment to Marxism, it is necessary for an historian to glean only the most useful information and facts from such debates in order to form and accurate yet insightful and personal opinion into the question. I consider three main points of view to be vital: firstly, the rather revisionist point of view that Lenin simply adapted Marxism to real-life. Secondly, a more modern post-revisionist view that Lenin adapted Marxism to suit Russia and whatever her particular social and economic position at the time, and finally, the orthodox view that Lenin simply manipulated Marxism to justify his ruthless dictatorship. I found enough evidence to lend credibility to all three schools of thought, although much tended more to the post-revisionist view, that true Marxism was actually unrealistic, and Lenin had skilfully adapted Marxist thought to suit and survive in a 20th century Russian...